I left my site feelings excited. Not only about my upcoming vacation but the computer fix it guy called and said guess what....we got your computer back and it is ready for pick up! Yeah. Finally going to be able to watch TV and Movies and Music again! Whoot whoot (because following the tread of electronic failure my ipod will turn on but can't hear anything, ahhhhhhh). So I get to Chota and go to pick up my computer and what to do I get but a HUGE surprise! Oh they fixed the problem and created about 50 more! The chip they replaced the computer couldn't recognize so they wiped out the computers hard drive and replaced it with all pirated stuff. You might think oh maybe look on the positive side and you will always be working on your Spanish...but when you don't understand computers in your native language trying to figure one out in another = disaster! Argh! Anyways so that put a damper to the start of the festivities but no matter, JENNA IS COMING!
So I take the combi to Bambamarca and get in the next for Cajamarca, of course my bad luck holding it takes forever to fill up and then we have the only slow driver in Peru! I am freaking out because my bus leaves in an hour and we still aren't to Cajamarca city yet (and buses are usually one of the things that run on time here). I get there with less than 30 minutes, Thank the Lord. Get to Lima and the fun begins. I meet up with an old friend from study abroad days. We had lunch and we ran into another volunteer passing through Lima so it was quite a little party! Andrea is just as sweet as I remember her to be and it was a blast to hear about what is new in her life and how everyone else I remember is doing. That night at the hostel I had a lot of fun meeting some random travelers: a couple from the States, Brazil, Ireland among other places. We sat around chatted and drank which was great since I was alone and helped pass the time until I needed to go pick Jenna up from the airport.
FINALLY 3 AM rolls around and I get a cab to the airport chatting with my driver who was such a nice fellow for it being so early. Jenna is one of the first people through the customs check! I thought I would cry when I saw her but was so unbelievably happy and impatient that she get over to me for a hug that I didn't. God it was amazing to get a hug! People here in Peru are not really touchy people and neither am I usually but with that hug I could feel the love and it made all the difference in the world.
We get back to the hostel take a little cat nap and when we wake up go to breakfast at Crepes and Waffles (one of my favs in Lima). Then strolled along the coast line catching up on life. It is incredible how much happens in a years time. She also came at a really good time of year for the Lima area not cold or to overcast. Next we went to Central Lima where the President lives and there are cool old churches. We toured the Catacombs which of course made me feel like Bones in my excitement to see over 25,000 human remains! Crazy right that that many people could be buried underneath this little church. Did some other touristy stuff and had an all in all wonderful day.
We get up early and head to the airport again to catch a plane to Cusco. Get to Cusco and it is just as historically rich as I remember. The buildings and town in general just have that feel, like important things happened here and it has stood the test of time. We spent the whole day walking around and enjoying the nice weather etc. Our hostel the Amura II was oh so very nice. It was such a cute little oasis, definitely a place I would go again and love to just bring a book and sit outside with my cup of coffee for a couple of days. Also in Cusco they have some great restaurants! We had a good burger and fries sitting on a balcony in the Plaza for lunch and great soup/sandwich/salad at a vegetarian place. Boy oh boy do I wish we had that kinda food in Chota.
Next day we head into the Sacred Valley to begin our tour of the ruins. We took local transport out (which was fun to show her how I get around every day!) to the first ruins. Obviously we took our time and a million pictures.
Climbing with our hiking bags...man now that will teach me to be a minimalist!!! We stayed overnight in Urubamba. Once again beautiful!
